Container and applicator



Nov. 21, 1933. w. T. KEESHAN CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR Filed May 19, 1932INVENTOR f/ fla/1I Les/Ia/z Wawy@ ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 21, 1933CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR William T. Keeshan, Navesink, N. J.

Application May 19, 1932. Serial No. 612,331

8 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain applicators which may be employed asmeans for containing and applying various liquid substances, such asnail polishes, nail polish removers, cuticle removers, or equivalentsubstances.

Liquid nail polishes, which are usually viscous solutions ofnitrocellulose containing, as coloring matter, dyes in solution, tend tothicken through evaporation of the solvents, thereby retarding thedrying time and deepening the color so that it varies from thatoriginally intended. Bottles which have been previously used ascontainers for nail polishes are open to the objection that they admitof the evaporation of the solvents and 5 thickening of the polish andthe attendant disadvantages and objections above enumerated, in additionto presenting the risk of upsetting and spilling the contents and thedifiiculty and inconvenience experienced of obtaining uniformapplication of the contents With a separate applicator dipped into thecontainer. Many of these disadvantages and objections also apply to nailpolish removers, cuticle removers, iodine or other equivalentsubstances.

The present invention, therefore, broadly comprehends a safe andpractical device of the indicated character which serves both as acontainer for conveniently carrying liquid substances of this nature andan eiicient medium for dispensing and applying the same without wasteeither through spillage or loss through evaporation and thickening whileproviding means by virtue of which an even application is insured and auniformity of color is obtained.

The invention further contemplates a container and applicator designedfor the intended purpose which includes means for preventing thedischarge of the contents by expansion due to temperature changes, whichmeans particularly resides in the provision of a removable closure capwhich is equipped with an absorbent pad containing a vapor pressuregenerating substance which counteracts the expansion of the reservoircontents and which further acts to prevent hardening of the substance onthe applicator brush or element.

As a further feature, the invention embodies an improved venting meansto be used where the reservoir contains a viscous substance which doesnot readily flow and requires venting.

The invention further resides in a device of the character set forthwhich is comparatively simple in its construction and mode of use, in-

expensive to manufacture, which is practically unbreakable and which ishighly eilicient for its intended purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, in which there areexhibited several examples or embodiments of the invention, While theclaims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing: y

Figure 1 is a side view of a container and ap- 65 plicator constructedin accordance with the invention and illustrating the removable closurecap in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale with thecap removed and shoW- ing the venting means in closed condition.

Figure 3 is a similar fragmentary view showing the venting means in opencondition.

Figure 4 is a similar fragmentary View illustrating a slightly modifiedform of applicator. 5

Figure 5 is a similar View of a further form of applicator.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the device includesa tubular body 10,- preferably of glass or any other suitabletransparent material, which in the preferred form of the invention iscovered by an insulating sheath 11 of cork or any other suitablematerial. .One end, hereinafter referred to as the rear end, is closedby a stopper 12, while the opposite end receives a plug 13 which taperstoward its outer exposed end and has a remaining diameter 14approximating the diameter of the tubular body 10. The plug 13 is formedwith a longitudinally extending, preferably axial, passage 15 whichterminates in an enlarged recess 16 opening through the outer reducedend. The applicator as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is in the natureof a brush and includes a sleeve 17 tted into 95 the recess 16 andhaving a constricted outer end 18. Bristles 19 are anchored in thesleeve and protrude outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve,and the anchored ends of the bristles terminate Within the inner end ofthe sleeve 16. The anchored portion of the bristles is drilled orotherwise formed with an axial perforation 20 to permit of the flow ofthe contents therethrough from the reservoir dened Within the body 10,so that the contents flow onto the protruding portions of the bristles.Adjacent the rear or stopper end 12, the covering sheath 11 is providedwith diametrically disposed aligned slots 21,. by virtue of which thequantity of the contents in the body may be observed, whereby 11o theuser may be informed when the contents are about to be depleted.

In order to provide means for closing and protecting the appl'icator'endof the device when the same is not in use, a removable closure cap 22 isprovided having a closed outer end 23 and an open inner end 24 which isof an internal diameter to snugly fit over the plug 13, which plug ispreferably of cork. Within the closed outer end 23 of the cap, anabsorbent material 25 is arranged which is held in place by a foraminousdisk or screen 26. Where the contents are of a volatile naturecontaining a solvent which 'rapidly evaporates and dries on theapplicator bristles, the absorbent material is saturated withapproximately the same liquid as the liquid constituent of the substancein the reservoir. The purpose of this is to give off a vapor which inaddition to acting as a solvent to keep the bristles in a softenedcondition, also serves to set up or generate a vapor pressure forcounteracting any tendency of the contents of the reservoir to be forcedout through the feed passages.

Where the contents of the reservoir are of a viscous nature and do notreadily flow, the stopper 12 is provided with a venting passage 27extending axially or longitudinally therethrough. In order to providemeans for controlling the venting passage, a cap 28 is provided which isformed with an inwardly directed -projection 29 which engages within theventing opening and closes the same. The stopper 12 in this instance hasan external portion or flange 30 of larger diameter than the diameter ofthe body 10, and the cap is formed with an annular inwardly directedmarginal flange 31 of an internal diameter to snugly engage with theperiphery of the fiange 30. Theinner extremity of the flange 31 isoffset inwardly as at 32 and has an internal diameter corresponding tothe external diameter of the body 10. In this instance, the coveringsheath 11 terminates in appropriate spaced relation from the rear end ofthe body 10 to afford a clearance to permit of sliding of the cap 28,the sliding movement being limited outwardly by the flange 30 of thestopper. The fiange 31 of the cap is formed with a vent opening 33which, when the cap is shifted inwardly to the extent of its movement,is located behind the flange 30 of the stopper. When the cap 28 isshifted outwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 3, it is obviousthat the reservoir will be vented to the atmosphere to facilitateflowing of thev contents through the feed passage 15 and bristleperforation 20.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the plug 13a, inthis instance while following generally the shape of the plugillustrated in the first form of the invention, is provided with alongitudinal or axial bore 15a, within which is arranged a wick tube16a, and which wick tube has extending therethrough a wick 17a whichconveys the liquid content A from the interior of the body 10a to theexposed terminal of the wi/ck tube. This particular form of applicatoris especially useful for nail polish removers but may also be used foriodine or other free fiowing liquids of this nature.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the plug 13b ispreferably of a flexible elastic material, such as rubber, and theexternal configuration of the same is substantially identical with theplugs in the previously described forms, but in this instance, the plugis provided with a longitudinally extending borfI or passage 15b forconveying the liquid content B directly through the plug from theinterior of the body 10b. This form of the invention is particularlydesirable for containing and applying liquid cuticle remover and theplug serves also as a. means for not only applying the cuticle softeningsubstance to the cuticle but for working the same into the cuticle andfor working off the cuticle to facilitate its removal.

Where it is desired to produce the device so as to render the samenon-refillable, a suitable form of cement may be employed to retain thestopper 12 and the plug 13 in place and to prevent its removal withoutfracturing the body 10.

While there have been illustrated and described several embodiments ofthe invention, no limitation is intended to the precise structuraldetalls, and variations and modifications thereof which fall within thescope of the appended claims may be resorted to when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A container and applicator including a tubular body defining areservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinalfeed passage and having an enlarged recess opening through the outer endof the body and in communication with said feed passage, and anapplicator brush including a sleeve fitted in the recess and having aconstricted outer end, and bristles anchored in said sleeve andprotruding outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve, saidanchored portion of the bristles having an axial perforation to permitof flow of the reservoir contents therethrough onto the protrudingportions of the bristles, and a closure at the opposite end of the body.

2. A container and applicator including a tubular body defining areservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinalfeed passage, anl applicator element carried by the plug and protrudingoutwardly therefrom, a closure at the opposite end of the body, saidclosure having a venting passage and means for closing and opening saidventing passage.

3. A container and applicator including a tubular body defining areservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinalfeed passage, an applicator element carried by the plug and protrudingoutwardly therefrom, a closure at the opposite end of the body, saidclosure having a venting passage and means for closing and opening saidventing passage, said means consisting of a cap having a vent openingand a projection on the cap engageable within the venting passage toclose the same, said cap being slidably mounted for movement to aposition to simultaneously disengage the projection from the ventingpassage and to establish communication with the atmosphere through thevent opening of the cap.

4. A container and applicator including a tubular transparent bodydefining a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having alongitudinal feed passage and having an enlarged recess opening throughthe outer end of the body and in communication with said feed passage,and an applicator brush including a sleeve fitted in the recess andhaving a constricted outer end, and bristles anchored in said sleeve andprotruding outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve, saidanchored portion of the bristles having an axial perforation to permitof fiow of the reservoir contents therethrough onto the protrudingportions of the bristles and an insulating sheath covering said body andhaving aligned diametrically opposed slots adiaeent the rear end of thebody for observing the quantity of the contents in the body.

5. A container and applicator including a tubular body dening areservoir, a plug fitted in one end of said body having a longitudinalfeed passage and having an enlarged recess open-l ing through theouterendof thebodyandin communication with said feed passage, and anapplicator brush including a sleeve fitted in the recess and having aconstricted outer end, and bristles anchored in said sleeve andprotruding outwardly from the constricted end of the sleeve, saidanchored portion of the bristles having an axial perforation to permitof ilow of the reservoir contents therethrough onto the protrudingportions of the bristles and an insulating sheath covering said body,said sheath denning a shoul-i der against which shoulder a removable capfitted over said plug is adapted to seat.

8. In a device of the character set forth, a tubular body closed at oneend and constituting a reservoir containing a volatile liquid content, aplug member closing the opposite end of thebodyandhavingafeedpassagefordispensing therethrough the contentsyof thereservoir, a

removable cap fitted over the plug member and absorbent means containinga liquid for producing a coxmteracting vapor pressure to prevent feedingof the reservoir contents through the feed passage when the cap isapplied.

7. A device for containing, dispensing and applying volatile substanceswhich are subject to expansion by heat, including a tubular body havinga closed end and a dispensing outlet at the other end, a heat insulatingsheath covering said body, a removable closure for the dispensing endand an absorbent means within the closure containing a substance forproducing a counteracting vapor pressure to prevent feeding of thecontents of the device through the dispensing outlet when the closure isapplied.

8. A container and applicator including a tubular transparent bodydening a reservoir, a plug fitted in one end of the body having alongitudinal feed passage and an insulating sheath covering said bodyand having aligned diametrically opposed slots adjacent the rear end ofthe body for observing the contents in the body.

WILULAM T. KEESHAN.

